Sealed roller bearing



Dec. 10, 1963 J. H. LOBECK 3,113,813

SEALEDROLLER BEARING Filed March 2. 1961 aaaails '6 FIG. I. FIG. 2.

FIG. 3. FIG. 4.

JOHN H, LOBECK INVENTOR.

h hrgm M United States Patent Ofifice 3,113,813 Fatented Dec. 10, 1%63Maine Filed lvlar. 2, ltal, @er. N 92,929 2 Claims. (61. SSS-187.2)

The description which follows relates to a sealed roller bearingprimarily intended to be placed between a non rotary pin, shaft or thelike and a sheave or similar rotating part.

Bearings of this type are subjected to severe operating conditions andmust be protected against the intrusion of foreign matter such as dust,grit, water and like. It is most desirable, also, that such bearings beas free as possible of friction between the parts. At the same timeadequate provision must be made for suitable lubrication.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a seal between theparts or" a roller bearing with a minimum or" frictional contact.Another object of e invention is to provide a seal which may beresiliently inserted in place and free to serve its purpose withoutwear.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a seal which formsa baffle or labyrinth against the loss of lubricant without at tie sametime establishing friction between relatively movable parts.

A still further object of the invention to provide for a unit assemblyof the hearing such that it may be in stalled and removed as a singleoperating element.

The above and other objects of the inven= on are forth in detail in thefollowing soecilication and illustr ted by way of example on the atached drawings on which:

FIG. 1 is a transverse section of the improved sealed roller bearing;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a modified forrn;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section showing the sealed roller bearing asassembled for unitary handling, and

FIG. 4 is a similar section of the bearing assembly for direct mountingon a shaft or the like.

By way of illustrating preferred form of the invention there is shown inthe drawings a resilient plastic seal which is interposed between theinner and outer races of a roller bearing. It is frictionally attachedto the inner bearing race on the one hand and loosely held in the outerraceway without material frictional engagemerit.

Referring to FEGURE 1 there is shown an inner race 6. This race isinxrnovably fixed on a pin or the like, not shown, and is intended notto rota-fie. This race has an oil groove '7 with an oil supply hole 8 bywhich a suitable lubricant oil or grease may be introduced into thechamber holding the bearing rollers.

The outer race 9 may be part of the hub of a sheave or like rotatingmember. The race 9 has inwardly projecting end flanges it).

The bearing rollers 11 are held between the flanges lb, 39 and spacedeach from the other by means of the retainer 12 havin ends 13,subtending the flanges proper.

Each flange has a circular groove M, M.

The sealin element proper is a ring 15 made of suitable plastic which isoil-proof and is somewhat resilient. This ring fits t 1113 by frictionon the outer surface the inner race opposite one of the grooves 1 in theflan Due to the resilience of the plastic ring, it may be for ced into afixed position on the inner race in the desired relation to the flange.

The ring has a broad base 25 for suitable adherence to the inner race 6.The ring itself extends outwardly and terminates in a narrow rib 17. Asshown in FIGURE 1, thi is formed by a setback 13 on the outer race ofthe ring.

The outer edge of the rib 17 is sloped inwardly and downwardly. By thisarrangement it is possible in forcing the ring into its position todeflect the upper part of the rib It? so that it will pass the inneredge of the flange it) and snap into position in the groove 14.

The upper edge of the rib 17 does not extend to the full distance of thegroove 14, but leaves a slight clearance. In like manner a slightclearance is provided between the side walls of the rib and the sidewalls of the groove.

It will be understood that one seal is provided opposite each flange llA small hole not shown is provided transversely of the ring. This allowsfor equalization of pressure between the opposite sides of the rib sothat lubrication may be introduced and a pumping action avoided in theoperation of the bearing. in practical operation this hole and theclearances around the rib It? will be suficiently filled with heavylubricant such as grease as to prevent the intrusion of foreign matter.

In assembly the usual practice will be followed of arranging the rollersand the retainer within the chamber or": the outer race, then slippingthem into place over the inner race. A ring l5" may be pushed over thesurface of the inner ring until the deflected rib is inserted within thegroove l4 Thus a bafile is provided without material sliding contactbetween the outer race and the ring.

In the form shown in FIGURE 2, the inner race carries two collars l9,These collars are opposite the flanges lit), fill in the outer race 9.The rollers 26 and their retainer 21 occupy the space between thecollars 1), 19.

A ring 15 may then be slipped over each collar until it is opposite thegroove is? or" the adjacent flange H9.

in this instance the ring 15 has a wide base 15 and upstanding rib 22.The rib Z2 is of uniform width to the sloping top and does not have thesetback described above.

The operation, however, is the same in that the side walls of the ribform slightly spaced batlles with the side Walls of the groove M andthus seal the bearing.

In FIGURE 3 a further modification is shown in which the inner and outerraces are keyed together by the sealing means so that the assembledbearing can be handled as a unit.

Thus the inner race is in the form of an annulus 24 which conforms inwidth to the length of the bearing rollers 25. The usual retainer 26holds the rollers 25 in place.

An end plate 27 is fitted on each end of the annulus 2d opposite theflange lid of the outer race 9. The outer race carries the groove 14above described. Opposite this groove each side plate 27 has a similargroove 28. The seal consists of a ring 29. This has a depending ribwhich fits within groove 28.

he ring is of resilient plastic adapted to slide over the face or" theend plate 27' until the rib 3' drops into the groove 23 where it has atight fit.

The upstanding rib 31 of the sealing ring a; has an inwardly sloping topsurface. When the ring 29 is pushed over the surface of the end plate27, the upstanding rib is deflected. As the depending rib drops into thegroove 23, the upstanding rib 31 is released to slide into the groove14. In this position the sloping face is out of contact with the base ofthe groove, while the side walls of the rib 31 have a slight clearancefrom the side walls of the groove. In this Way a frictionless baffle isprovided to prevent escape of lubricant or entrance of foreign matter.

The advantage of this form is that it can be assembled as a completebearing and installed as a unit.

The sealing arrangement above described forms an improved andadvantageous adjunct to the roller bearing unit. It provides for readyinstallation, being mounted fixedly on the inner race member. It thenbecomes a positioning element for the outer race, particularly as shownin FIGURE 1.

The seal is effective not only to hold the parts in position for unitaryapplication as in FIGURE 3, but also to form a substantiallyfrictionless seal against loss of lubricant. The battle effect is suchas to prevent the entrance of foreign matter.

The essential features of the novel hearing may also be embodied in aform which can be handled as a unit for installation on a shaft or likein place of using an inner roller race. Such a construction isillustrated on PEG. 4. The outer race 9 has inwardly projecting endflanges ltl, ltl, as described above. Likewise the rollers are confinedbetween the flanges by the retainer 12 having ends B, B subtending theflanges. Beyond the retainer the flanges have circular grooves 14, 1atoreceive the rings 15, 15.

The rings are held in place by engage ent of the narrow ribsli', 17.This engagement is sufii cnt to hold the rings in place and keep theretainer, and consequently the rollers against inadvertent displacement.The bearing can therefore be packed as a unit and installed merely bysliding the rings over a shaft or the like s rving as an inner race forthe rollers.

The invention has been described in its preferred fern and isillustrated without however limiting the invention other than as definedby the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sealed roller bearing comprising an inner race having opposite endplates, an outer race having flanges with circular grooves, a series ofbearing rollers bet leen said flanges and end plates, a retainer for therollers, said side plates having grooves opposite the grooves in theflanges, an elastic ring having a frictional fit on each plate, adepending rib on each ring fitting the groove in the plate, and anupstanding rib loosely held within the groove of a flange.

2. A sealed roller bearing comprising an inner race raving opposite endplates, an outer race having flanges with circular grooves, a series ofbearing rollers between said flanges and end plates, a retainer for therollers, said side plates having grooves opposite the grooves in theflanges, an elastic ring having a relatively wide base frictionally heldon each plate, a narrow depending rib on each ring fitting the groove inthe plate, and a narrow upstanding rib loosely held Within the groove ofa fia References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A SEALED ROLLER BEARING COMPRISING AN INNER RACE HAVING OPPOSITE ENDPLATES, AN OUTER RACE HAVING FLANGES WITH CIRCULAR GROOVES, A SERIES OFBEARING ROLLERS BETWEEN SAID FLANGES AND END PLATES, A RETAINER FOR THEROLLERS, SAID SIDE PLATES HAVING GROOVES OPPOSITE THE GROOVES IN THEFLANGES, AN ELASTIC RING HAVING A FRICTIONAL FIT ON EACH PLATE, ADEPENDING RIB ON EACH RING FITTING THE GROOVE IN THE PLATE, AND ANUPSTANDING RIB LOOSELY HELD WITHIN THE GROOVE OF A FLANGE.